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amead17 · 12-03-2025, 10:53 AM

MANAGERIAL SHAKE-UP SWEEPS MAJORS AS SEASON CLOSES
By Samuel T. Kingsley & Arthur H. Leland, Sporting Times
October 24th, 1911

The season’s end has brought with it the customary tally of front-office casualties, yet this year’s ledger bears several surprising entries alongside the expected.

Foremost among the shocks is the decision in Philadelphia. The Phillies have parted company with long-time manager Emmanuel Saavedra, whose contract has expired after four campaigns at the helm. Saavedra guided the club to a 6th-place finish in 1908, followed by three consecutive 2nd-place pennants from 1909 through 1911. Despite that run of near-triumphs, the club has elected to seek a new direction in its quest for both a league pennant and a world’s series crown.
Saavedra expressed both disappointment and grace at the news.
“I had hoped to finish the job we started,” he said, “but I bear no ill will. The Phillies gave me four good years, and I wish them nothing but success.”

Nearly as startling is the situation in Cleveland, where the Naps have dismissed manager Tom Laney. Laney’s tenure, spanning 1909 to 1911, included a world’s series victory in his first year, a 2nd-place finish in 1910, and a fall to 5th this season. The club seeks to halt what it views as a slide before it deepens.
Laney admitted to being caught off guard.
“I never imagined I’d be shown the door after what we achieved,” he remarked. “I felt I had earned at least one more year to set things right.”

In St. Louis, however, there is little surprise. The Cardinals have relieved General Stafford of his duties after four seasons marked by persistent struggles. Despite managing a modest rise to 7th place this year, his previous campaigns all ended in the cellar.
Stafford greeted the news with weary acceptance.
“It seemed only a matter of time,” he said. “We fought hard, but sometimes the end is plain before it comes.”

Chicago, too, finds itself parting with a familiar figure. The Cubs have dismissed Tom Loftus following a disastrous season that saw the club plunge to 8th with the worst record in baseball. Loftus, who had guided Chicago since 1900, oversaw a remarkable stretch from 1902 to 1910 in which the club never placed lower than 4th and even contested the 1904 world’s series.
Loftus reflected somberly on the abrupt downturn.
“One bad year can undo a decade of good,” he said. “I wish the end had been different, but I understand the decision.”

Rounding out the year’s changes is the departure of Frank Selee, whose contract with the Detroit Tigers has not been renewed. Selee’s stewardship from 1907 through 1911 yielded only a single finish in the top half of the table.
Selee offered a simple, measured response.
“I did what I could with what we had,” he said. “Sometimes that isn’t enough, and the club must look elsewhere.”

Thus the managerial wheel turns once more, leaving in its wake both surprise and inevitability as clubs across the league prepare for another march toward spring.

12-03-2025, 10:53 AM	#495
amead17 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 9,288	MANAGERIAL SHAKE-UP SWEEPS MAJORS AS SEASON CLOSES By Samuel T. Kingsley & Arthur H. Leland, Sporting Times October 24th, 1911 The season’s end has brought with it the customary tally of front-office casualties, yet this year’s ledger bears several surprising entries alongside the expected. Foremost among the shocks is the decision in Philadelphia. The Phillies have parted company with long-time manager Emmanuel Saavedra, whose contract has expired after four campaigns at the helm. Saavedra guided the club to a 6th-place finish in 1908, followed by three consecutive 2nd-place pennants from 1909 through 1911. Despite that run of near-triumphs, the club has elected to seek a new direction in its quest for both a league pennant and a world’s series crown. Saavedra expressed both disappointment and grace at the news. “I had hoped to finish the job we started,” he said, “but I bear no ill will. The Phillies gave me four good years, and I wish them nothing but success.” Nearly as startling is the situation in Cleveland, where the Naps have dismissed manager Tom Laney. Laney’s tenure, spanning 1909 to 1911, included a world’s series victory in his first year, a 2nd-place finish in 1910, and a fall to 5th this season. The club seeks to halt what it views as a slide before it deepens. Laney admitted to being caught off guard. “I never imagined I’d be shown the door after what we achieved,” he remarked. “I felt I had earned at least one more year to set things right.” In St. Louis, however, there is little surprise. The Cardinals have relieved General Stafford of his duties after four seasons marked by persistent struggles. Despite managing a modest rise to 7th place this year, his previous campaigns all ended in the cellar. Stafford greeted the news with weary acceptance. “It seemed only a matter of time,” he said. “We fought hard, but sometimes the end is plain before it comes.” Chicago, too, finds itself parting with a familiar figure. The Cubs have dismissed Tom Loftus following a disastrous season that saw the club plunge to 8th with the worst record in baseball. Loftus, who had guided Chicago since 1900, oversaw a remarkable stretch from 1902 to 1910 in which the club never placed lower than 4th and even contested the 1904 world’s series. Loftus reflected somberly on the abrupt downturn. “One bad year can undo a decade of good,” he said. “I wish the end had been different, but I understand the decision.” Rounding out the year’s changes is the departure of Frank Selee, whose contract with the Detroit Tigers has not been renewed. Selee’s stewardship from 1907 through 1911 yielded only a single finish in the top half of the table. Selee offered a simple, measured response. “I did what I could with what we had,” he said. “Sometimes that isn’t enough, and the club must look elsewhere.” Thus the managerial wheel turns once more, leaving in its wake both surprise and inevitability as clubs across the league prepare for another march toward spring.